Sunday, March 28, 2010

Here is a lovely article about an Oklahoma woman, Elizabeth Warren, who The New York Times calls "the scourge of Wall Street bankers." They say :

Ms. Warren has two roles here: officially, as head of Congressional oversight for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, and unofficially, as chief conceiver of and booster for a new consumer financial protection agency. Fusing those projects and her academic work, she has become the most prominent consumer advocate in years.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

I am posting information here about Florence Mubichi (shown here with her daughter, Fridah). This is a quick, easy way for the thousands and thousands of people across the globe who loved and admired her to learn about Florence's passing. Come back as I will be posting more in the days ahead.

There is a lovely article in The Oklahoman today about Toshiba honoring four girls at Edmond's John Ross Elementary School. They each won a digital cameras, a plaque and a laptop for their school for their idea to save lives. Congratulations Rachel Blitz, Allie Karnig, Grace Plant and Reia Storch.Read the full article here.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Wilma Lively, Director of DaySpring Villa Women's and Children's Shelter in Tulsa reports her facility is featured in a new documentary film that spotlights Tulsa-area domestic violence. Here is her press release of March 16, 2010.

DaySpring Villa, one of two domestic violence shelters in the Tulsa metro area, and Oklahoma’s only certified faith-based shelter for battered women and their children, announced today the release of Into the Light, a 40-minute documentary film produced by Comm-Arts that takes a sobering look at domestic violence through the eyes of three Tulsa women and the women of DaySpring Villa who work with victims of abuse.

Wilma Lively, executive director of DaySpring Villa, hopes the film and its message will gain broader attention through screenings at churches, businesses, schools, colleges and other organizations throughout the state.

“I believe people will be quite surprised by what they see and hear in this film,” Lively said. “The three women featured are very candid about their personal experiences and some of what they say is tough to hear, but it was important that we show the reality of domestic violence right here in our own backyard.”

Into the Light follows the stories of Christy, Emily and Amy as they come to terms with their abusive situations and work toward the freedoms they were once forbidden to even consider. Watching these women wrest free of their abuser’s strangleholds and dare to reach for their independence is both heartbreaking and triumphant, and not all three of the women succeed. This, said Lively, underscores the harsh reality of domestic violence as the average number of times a woman returns to her abuser before permanently ending the relationship is an astonishing 13.

“These women demonstrated amazing courage by not only agreeing to appear in the film but by dispelling the myth that a victim of domestic violence looks a certain way,” said Vickie Dawkins-Kersey, director of Into the Light. “Our goal was to capture their experiences honestly and with integrity, but also to show audiences how lives can be literally transformed as a result of organizations like DaySpring Villa.”

Businesses, churches, organizations and cinematic venues are encouraged to reserve a copy of Into the Light by calling Wilma Lively at 918-245-4075. To learn more about DaySpring Villa, visit www.dayspringvilla.com.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Oklahoma City non-profit founder and CEO Terry Neese will participate on Friday in a special meeting and symposium on educating and empowering women in Afghanistan.

As a member of the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, Neese will be attending the event in Dallas to participate with other Council members and representatives from Afghanistan, as well as leaders from the U.S. government. The group will join Bush and U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer in a discussion about the progress made by and the challenges still facing Afghan women and girls. President Obama appointed Verveer to this position at the U.S. State Department about a year ago.

“One of our PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS graduates, Andeisha Farid, will be speaking to the Council, detailing her experience as a business owner and as someone who is making a real difference in her country,” Neese said. “Andeisha is the founder of several orphanages in Afghanistan and last August, Andeisha mentored with Freda Deskin, founder and CEO of ASTEC Charter School. Andeisha and Freda continue to mentor and find ways to help more Afghan people. I am very proud of Oklahoma women business owners who give their and energy to our PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS students.”

The Council meeting and education conference will be held at the George W. Bush Institute on the campus of Southern Methodist University from 10:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, a 501(c)3 organization, created the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program, which provides long-term business training to female entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda. Education is provided in both countries, as well as in the United States. Since the program’s inception in 2006, 150 women have been directly trained and educated.

Many Oklahoma women business owners have served as mentors, including Deskin, Nancy Hyde of Hyde & Company CPAs, Mary Melon of the Journal Record, and Angie Hendricks of Bentley Hedges Travel.

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About The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women: The IEEW is a 501(c)3 non-profit empowering women to grow their businesses, pursue greater entrepreneurial ventures and become more active public policy advocates. The Institute accomplishes this mission by focusing on education, mentorship and coaching women in the United States and abroad who are seeking to acquire entrepreneurial skills to help start and grow a business.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Fort Sill graduated its first gender-integrated Basic Combat Training class at Fort Sill last Friday. It was the first class at Ft. Sill to include both men and women in over 10 years. Guest speaker Lt. Col. Todd Wasmund, commander of 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, said,

"Many expected that gender-integrated training, as the Army calls it, would present new challenges." But he cited a recent news article in which a drill sergeant said, "The fact that female privates are here hasn't changed anything, because they're soldiers just like the males. By all accounts, all of you have proven it's really no big deal." He added, "It's not about men and women. It's about soldiers. All of you have completed the same tough and realistic Basic Combat Training that is designed to prepare you for the challenges and opportunities that await you."

Maya Stewart is a 30-year old from the small town of Washington in McClain County, Oklahoma. A member of the Chickasaw, Muscogee and Choctow tribes, she has a line of women's handbags that bring attention to the beautiful side on American Indian designs. Read article here.

Friday, March 05, 2010

Stillwater Mayor Nathan Bates recently proclaimed March as Women's History Month and March 21 as Outstanding Women of the Year Day. You can watch Carey Warner with the Cimarron Chapter of Oklahoma Business Women, Inc. receive the proclamation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fqStbCQcqk

Here is the wording of the proclamation:

PROCLAMATION by the Mayor and the City Council of Stillwater, Oklahoma recognizing the month of March as “Women’s History Month” and naming March 21, 2010 as “Outstanding Women of the Year” day.

WHEREAS, Women of every race, class, and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our community in countless recorded and unrecorded ways.

WHEREAS, Women have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and social role in every sphere of the life of our community by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working inside and outside the home.

WHEREAS, Women have played a unique role throughout history by providing the majority of the volunteer labor force. Women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions.

WHEREAS, Women of every race, class, and ethnic background have served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement in our city, state and nation.

WHEREAS, Women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and other movements, especially the peace movement, which creates a more fair and just society for all; and

WHEREAS, the Stillwater City Council and the Mayor of Stillwater join with the Cimarron Business Women in recognizing the roles and contributions of women in the community of Stillwater.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Stillwater City Council and the Mayor of Stillwater hereby officially recognize March as “Women’s History Month” and March 21, 2010 as “Outstanding Women of the Year” day.

Well done, ladies. Other Oklahoma women's clubs -- how about using the above as a guide and asking YOUR city to do a similar proclamation?!

The Oklahoma City Chapter of the Links, Inc. will join forces with INTEGRIS Health and The Israel Idonije Foundation to build on its commitment to support and refurbish schools in Africa to make a direct difference in the lives of African families. Chicago Bears defensive tackle, Israel Idonije and members of his Foundation, will be in Oklahoma City on March 3 and 4 to officially meet and welcome the Links partnership.

The Links, Incorporated is an international, not-for-profit corporation, established in 1946. The membership consists of 12,000 professional women of color in 270 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. It is one of the nation’s oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of extraordinary women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry. The members of The Links, Incorporated are influential decision makers and opinion leaders. Links members contribute more than 500,000 documented hours of community service annually. The outstanding programming of the Links, has four facets which include National Trends and Services, The Arts, Services to Youth, and International Trends and Services. Through their partnership with INTEGRIS Health and the Idonije Foundation, they will assist with support to families and youth in Nigeria.

On a mission trip scheduled for March 19-29, 2010 INTEGRIS Health physicians and nurses, will expand on its 2009 efforts to provide medical screening and treatment to underserved citizens in Abuja and Lagos, Nigeria. INTEGRIS Health has more than quadrupled the amount of medication and supplies to be used in this 2010 mission.

The Israel Idonije Foundation (IIF) is entering its third year of service in Nigeria. Through IIF’s C.A.R.E. Africa program (Caring, Advancing, Restoring, Educating Africa) more than 1200 pairs of shoes will be donated to families and youth. C.A.R.E. will donate sports equipment and uniforms, soccer balls, and conduct sports and health education camps during this year’s mission.

In addition to the Israel Idonije Foundation, NTEGRIS Health, and The Links, Incorporated, other mission trip partners include, TCYFL (The Chicagoland Youth Football League), We Play to Win Foundation, GoalPower and Share Your Soles.

Wednesday, March 03, 2010

The first National Women's Day was celebrated in the United States on February 28, 1909. In 1910, 100 years ago, the Socialist International honored women's rights and women's suffrage by establishing a Women's Day -- but without a date. The next year, Women's Day was celebrated in several European countries with rallies.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

TThe Oklahoma Women's Coalition's second annual Advocacy Day at the Capitol was great! Oklahoma Secretary of State Susan Savage and State Representative Lee Denney (see image left) got us off to a wonderful start. Then YWCA-OKC CEO Jan Peery explained that the OWC has elected to support two legislative matters so far this year. Click on images on left to enlarge.

The issues are passage of SB2998 and maintaining the current funding level for Oklahoma's domestic violence and sexual assault programs. Then we fanned out all over the State Capitol Building. We were back at the Oklahoma History Center by noon for a delicious lunch and a chance to hear from the four major candidates for Governor of Oklahoma this year: US Congresswoman Mary Fallin, Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins, Attorney General Drew Edmondson, and Senator Randy Brogdon.

We were adjourned by 1 sharp but people stayed and visited as much useful networking took place! We celebrated 28 organizational members including our two newest organizations: the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy and the Tulsa's Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Inc. Thanks to all who came and everyone who made this event a success. Special kudos to our Communications Chair, Quin Tran who had us all over the TV stations in both Tulsa and Oklahoma City leading up to today!